What are Confetti?

Italian confetti are small, almond sweets with a crisp, sugar coating. Known in the US as Jordan almonds, and in France as dragées, these traditional confectionery are a much-loved and essential offering at any Italian wedding, baptism, anniversary, graduation or significant family event.

Originally thought to be a Roman delicacy, which was coated in honey. Sugar was used from when it first became widely available in the 15th century. The Medieval city of Sulmona in the Abruzzo region quickly became the home and principal centre of production in Italy with the Pelino family commencing their eponymous operation in 1783.

Confetti come in a rainbow of colours to suit all tastes and festive colour schemes. An ages-old tradition however dictates which colour should be used for which occasion:

Another Italian convention suggests that confetti at weddings are served in a multiple of the number 5 symbolising the 5 good wishes for newly-weds of health, prosperity, happiness, fertility and longevity. Even in other situations they are always served in odd numbers as even numbers are deemed to be unlucky.

Today’s confetti are also packaged similarly to other popular, every-day confectionary. They are available in small bags and boxes and are also intended as token gifts for any occasion or simply enjoyed as a sweet treat.

The modern Pelino confetti are still hand-made with traditional equipment according to a recipe and process dating back over 300 years. The individual almonds are coated with a coloured sugar solution and tumbled over and over in special, heated, copper drums until the process is complete. The Pelino confetti are also uniquely distinguished by their formula which uses neither flour nor other forms of starch.

Note that the English word confetti, meaning tiny scraps of multi-coloured paper used in anglo saxon countries at weddings, has its origins in the Italian tradition. The coloured confetti sweets were at one time thrown during the Italian Carnival celebrations. This convention was revived in symbolic paper form at the end of the 19th century when the throwing of rice at a newly- married couple fell out of favour.

The root of the Italian word confetti comes from the Latin confectum which means ‘prepared’. The Italian word for the English paper confetti is coriandoli which is still an essential part of the annual Carnevale celebrations all over Italy.